Monday, December 21, 2009

Here is a scan of Bernie Wrightson's piece "The Conqueror Worm." This drawing always kind of creeped me out. I guess it's a combination of the white eyes and the slug-like tail. It was used as the back cover of the Berni Wrightson Treasury (1975)and was the front cover of a Wrightson checklist published right around the same time. More below...

Below I've posted the last panel of the last issue of Swamp Thing Bernie drew, (#10, June 1974). Apparently, Swamp Thing's next foe was going to be "The Conqueror Worms." Since the drawing here was done around the same time, I always wondered if it was something left over from the run-up to Swamp Thing #11, which of course Wrightson never drew. I don't know if a character like this big worm guy shows up in #11, I've never read it.

The phrase "The Conqueror Worm" is from a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The poem appears to be about the inevitability and finality of death.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Monster Times was a newsprint magazine published from 1972 to 1976. It focused on monster movies, but also covered comic books and things like Star Trek. Issue #1, dated January 26, 1972 had King Kong on the cover and some nice Wrightson work on the inside. Below are Bernie's contributions to that issue: a Frankenstein centerfold and a nice atmospheric two page Nosferatu strip. The Nosferatu strip was reprinted in both The Mutants and The Reaper of Love. The Frankenstein illustration was also reprinted in The Mutants.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Arthur Sarnoff (1912-2000) did a ton of illustrations and advertisements. He seems to have been most prolific in the 1950's. More art by Sarnoff here and here. I've really been enjoying this slick 1950's and 1960's commercial art lately. Sarnoff also did an album cover for the Butthole Surfers.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Of course, everyone remembers the Spiderman theme. But I'm posting the second most memorable one (to me): Captain America!

When Captain America throws his mighty shieldAll those who chose to appose his shield must yieldIf he's lead to a fight and a duel is dueThen the red and the white and the blue will shine throughWhen Captain America throws his mighty shield!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Here is a great blog called Hey Oscar Wilde! It's Clobberin' Time! It features someone's personal collection of drawings by comic book artists interpreting their favorite authors or literary characters. via

One of my favorites is George Pratt's rendition of the poet Wilfred Owen:

Monday, November 16, 2009

Inspired by this post (which wins my "most insane comic cover I've seen in the last couple of weeks" award), I became curious about Dagar the Invincible. I'm familiar with some Gold Key comics, mainly the war titles and good old Turok Son of Stone, but I'm ashamed to admit I had never heard of Dagar. So here's some nice Sword & Sorcery insanity:

Layout for cover to Dagar the Invincible #1, 1972. Attributed to Jesse Santos.